Torment by Mari Dietz

Author:Mari Dietz [Dietz, Mari]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mari Dietz

Chapter Sixteen

Chin’s back burned as he swept the stone hallway with the straw broom. His mother used to only whip him every so often, but it had become a nightly ritual as the next selection got closer. In the past, he’d survived, but now, without his brother, the wounds never healed.

He shifted his shoulders back for some relief. He’d chosen not to go to class today, and apparently, the Sho wanted to talk to him whenever he returned. He was gone more often than he was here, and in the last months, nothing had been mentioned of the accusation of Chin hurting Mei’s dragon. The priests had informed his mother about the incident. From what Chin could tell, he wouldn’t take the blame, but it was yet another shame added to the list.

The first recruit ran down to get their harnesses, and Chin walked farther away from Mei’s den and slowly dragged the broom across the floor. The throbbing in his back matched the strokes of his sweeping as he continued his chore.

Maybe if I find a dark corner, I can just sleep here and not go home. It would give his back a break. The spring selection grew near, and thoughts of the clear blue sky kept him going.

His pensive mood came to a halt when people gathered outside of Mei’s den, causing a commotion.

“What’s going on this time?” he muttered. Apparently, she couldn’t avoid catastrophe for long. A group of men with homdragons went in and out of her den.

“She’s patched up enough,” the healer called out to the priest on his way to the lift. “Don’t bother us about her again.”

Chin clenched his jaw at the healer’s tone and approached the priest. “What happened?”

“Fell off the dragon and another dragon caught her. Gashed up pretty bad, it seems.”

“Should I go…”

The priest raised his eyebrow. “Best stay away from that den until the Sho clears you from the incident.”

Chin nodded and casually ambled over to sweep next to Mei’s den. As the afternoon wore on, he ran out of excuses to walk by the den. The sun set, and the priest said nothing as Chin sat next to the entrance.

He peered inside. The black dragon towered over Mei’s slight frame. Every time Chin peeked in, the dragon would catch his eye and stare him down until he glanced away.

In the middle of the night, Chin woke from his doze and heard moaning coming from inside. The dragon paced around her, and Chin stepped inside. The dragon’s wide eyes surprised him, but he made no move to stop Chin’s approach. Mei lay on the ground, flush with fever.

Chin put the back of his hand on her head, and as he took it away, Mei grabbed his hand. He tried to remove her grip gently, but she held fast.

“She needs a healer.” Chin made eye contact with the dragon. Just how much did he understand? “I will go get Emiri.” He pried her hand from his and ran to the lift to find a healer who would actually help.

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